Packers' Saturday is out, Dietrich-Smith is in at center

Green Bay --- At some point, the Green Bay Packers knew they'd need to turn to a younger center for the future.

But they probably weren't expecting to do so on the cusp of the postseason.

At the podium Friday, coach Mike McCarthy said Evan Dietrich-Smith would start at center against the Tennessee Titans. And moments later at his locker, five-time Pro Bowler Jeff Saturday --- who didn't practice Wednesday and Thursday with a neck injury --- assured he is healthy enough to play. So, yes, Saturday is being benched with two regular-season games to go.

"As a player, it's always disappointing whenever someone else goes in front of you," Saturday said. "It's a tough thing to deal with, but I'm going to deal with it. Here's the one thing -- I can look at my family and I can look at all my players and say, 'I've put the best I can be out there.' So if that's not good enough and someone is better, they deserve to play."

Last off-season, the Packers opted not to re-sign Scott Wells, who inked a four-year, $24 million deal with the St. Louis Rams. Rather than draft or sign someone younger, Green Bay decided to go with Saturday at $7.75 million over two years. He counts $3.175 million against the cap this season.

On Friday, Saturday took the move in stride.

"Coach McCarthy makes a decision, and as a player you're one guy on the team," he said. "So whatever decision is made, you support what happens. I've got a ton of respect for 'Dietey.' He and I have worked together. I think he'll do a good job."

Saturday believes he has played well this season, saying "I've graded out well. You win 10 games, you win the division. So I've got no complaints with that." As pointed out in the weekly Rating the Packers, Saturday has struggled in the run game. When the Packers signed Saturday, they had to be concerned about the tread on the center's tires, too. He has started more 200 games over 14 seasons.

Dietrich-Smith, meanwhile, has drawn praise from quarterback Aaron Rodgers as a center of the future. A fighter in the run game during his brief stints at guard the past two years, his challenge may be making all the calls at the line of scrimmage, something Saturday did with Peyton Manning for so many years.

Now that T.J. Lang is settled back in at left guard, the Packers apparently are confident the 26-year-old Dietrich-Smith is ready to replace the 37-year-old Saturday....a week after being replaced at guard.

"They feel this is the best option for them," Dietrich-Smith said. "We’re going to go out there and do what we need to do to win football games. This is how they want to go, then this is how we’re going to roll with it. ... You’re just a little more in charge (at center). You’re in charge of the tempo, pressing the huddle, getting to the line, getting set, but I think we’re all on the same page as far as that goes."

Saturday admitted this "could be" a passing of the torch. He doesn't envision the Packers going back to him if Dietrich-Smith excels.

"Obviously you're giving a guy a chance to start," he said. "So obviously I'm a stop gap here. There's no surprise as far as that stuff goes. You're 37 years old. I've been around long enough to know that it's not a long future. But, no, I think if 'Dietey' plays well, I don't think they'd go back and make another change. So that's how I look at. I told Dietrich, I fully support it, man. I have a ton of respect for him as a player and as an athlete. I think he'll do a good job.

"We're at two totally different points in our career. His is on the up ramp, mine is on the way out."

Not that this inevitability makes the timing any easier. Saturday chose the Packers for this moment, this stretch run. He felt Green Bay offered the best chance to get to New Orleans.

Now, the team is going in a new direction.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't disappointing and tough," Saturday said. "I'm here to play football. I told Coach, I came here to help win a Super Bowl. Winning the NFC North is great but that isn't why I was here. I looked for more in the postseason so it's disappointing from that side."